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Broken Chain: The Echo of Lone Howls
It’s a story about a dog. And it is so much more. Biggs is a spirited German shepherd, and a farm dog, a protector of his master’s land and livestock. But everything changes one night when he breaks free, racing into the darkness to save a friend. The action leaps off the first page as the journey weaves through the Appalachian wilderness, unraveling the preconceived beliefs etched into the rocks of time. Through an unexpected turn of events, Biggs encounters a coyote named Cota and the two form an unusual friendship. But a german shepherd and a coyote cannot be friends, not in the Appalachian farm country they call home. Broken Chain - The Echo of Lone Howls is an epic adventure, a test of strength and purpose, that challenges the bonds of friendship, and will change your way of thinking forever. Biggs’s journey unfolds with both triumph and tragedy, leading him down the mysterious path of his own simple truth--only the power of empathy can break free the chains of perception. Come run with me on this exciting journey!
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2019
6 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Joe Cundiff
5 books4 followersJoe Cundiff is a writer from southwest Virginia. A love of animals, and living within the mountains of Appalachia provided the inspiration and backdrop for his first novel Broken Chain - The Echo of Lone Howls, and bonus book The River's End.
Joe is an avid outdoorsman, adventurer, and poet. Capturing the essence of all those experiences inspire him to write, and to share the depth of feeling held within each place.
Joe has also written a children's book, Fly To The Moon On A Witch's Broom, with several more in the works.
Three new novels are also in the works for Joe, which will be part of his Wyndsor Box Series.
Check out more of Joe's writing at his blog post listed below.
Joe is an avid outdoorsman, adventurer, and poet. Capturing the essence of all those experiences inspire him to write, and to share the depth of feeling held within each place.
Joe has also written a children's book, Fly To The Moon On A Witch's Broom, with several more in the works.
Three new novels are also in the works for Joe, which will be part of his Wyndsor Box Series.
Check out more of Joe's writing at his blog post listed below.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 7, 2019
I literally could not read the pages quickly enough. The story of Biggs hooked me from the get go. It did not let me go until the conclusion. I thought I was going to be reading a book about a much beloved dog. I love dogs. So I would have enjoyed that book. This book however offers so much more. I don't want to spoil the story by discussing the details. I will tell you I love the outdoors, the natural world, and animals. Personally I identified with the setting of the book since I am from Southwest Virginia. I also connected strongly with Biggs and I felt what he felt. Joy, anger, love, a profound sense of being totally alone, and heartbreaking sadness were just some of the emotions. There are a number of life lessons lurking within the story. These lessons may speak to each reader differently. A final word. Buy this book and read it soon.
April 25, 2019
As an avid reader, I live for the satisfying moment of clutching a book to my chest, deep in thought upon reading a beautiful scene, a pivotal piece of dialogue, a final chapter. Broken Chain - The Echo of Lone Howls is one where I paused in reading to do all three. Like the many reviewers before me mentioned, I didn’t want this story to end!
Almost immediately upon reading, I was placed in the action, running alongside the protagonist, Biggs, a fierce and loyal German Shepherd, as he bounded into the challenging terrain of the Appalachian Mountains surrounding his home in an effort to help a friend. Every episode that followed left me eagerly wanting to know what came next! Joe’s use of descriptive writing, allowed this “city girl” to imagine venturing deep into mountains, running through open fields, and traversing landscapes I have only shallowly experienced in everyday life. Taking this journey with Biggs and friends will be one I will always remember!
An aside: Like so many, I have an intense love for dogs; Biggs is no exception. He is everyman’s dog. So much of his character reminds me of the beloved dogs who have filled my life--his loyalty, his guardianship, his need to run. In addition to Biggs’s canine nature, I was able to see myself as well as other people I have known through the personified elements included his character. His struggle for identity and where he belongs in his world reminded me of my own. The unlikely friendships Biggs cultivates with Cota (a coyote) and Bear, as well as his loyalty to Master, caused me to consider the interactions and relationships I share with others--specifically those who have helped to shape me through the differences that we share. For this reason, I plan to share this novel with my own middle school students as well as colleagues to inspire joy, encourage friendships, promote contemplation, and most of all, to cultivate empathy!
Broken Chain: The Echo of Lone Howls provides more than an extraordinary story for readers; it provides an boundless experience! It is a MUST read for people of all ages!
Almost immediately upon reading, I was placed in the action, running alongside the protagonist, Biggs, a fierce and loyal German Shepherd, as he bounded into the challenging terrain of the Appalachian Mountains surrounding his home in an effort to help a friend. Every episode that followed left me eagerly wanting to know what came next! Joe’s use of descriptive writing, allowed this “city girl” to imagine venturing deep into mountains, running through open fields, and traversing landscapes I have only shallowly experienced in everyday life. Taking this journey with Biggs and friends will be one I will always remember!
An aside: Like so many, I have an intense love for dogs; Biggs is no exception. He is everyman’s dog. So much of his character reminds me of the beloved dogs who have filled my life--his loyalty, his guardianship, his need to run. In addition to Biggs’s canine nature, I was able to see myself as well as other people I have known through the personified elements included his character. His struggle for identity and where he belongs in his world reminded me of my own. The unlikely friendships Biggs cultivates with Cota (a coyote) and Bear, as well as his loyalty to Master, caused me to consider the interactions and relationships I share with others--specifically those who have helped to shape me through the differences that we share. For this reason, I plan to share this novel with my own middle school students as well as colleagues to inspire joy, encourage friendships, promote contemplation, and most of all, to cultivate empathy!
Broken Chain: The Echo of Lone Howls provides more than an extraordinary story for readers; it provides an boundless experience! It is a MUST read for people of all ages!
January 3, 2021
This is generally not the type of book I read. With a few exceptions (Adriana Trigiani, Fanny Flagg and our beloved Pat Conroy), I mostly read non-fiction books. My favorite genre is travel memoirs but I also enjoy biographies or just ordinary folks telling their life stories. But I do read dog books and this is definitely a dog book.
I have to admit that I had to adjust to a dog as the narrator. I did not grow up around dogs but as an adult, I have had six and I think all dog owners and dog lovers want to be able to read the minds of our dogs. We know our dogs like riding in our trucks and we assume our dogs are happy by having food and shelter but this book made me wonder if we are right. I have questioned it even more after adopting a hound dog earlier this year.
She was probably someone’s hunting dog and was found with a broken and mangled leg, most likely caught in a snare trap. It is unknown if she had been abandoned by the hunter (as happens to many hunting dogs at the end of the season) or if she became lost while out on a hunt. She is very timid and is scared of almost everyone and everything yet is drawn to other dogs and absolutely comes to life when we take her out late at night. With no traffic in the neighborhood, and no runners or walkers, I watch her assess the night, sniffing the air, looking at and listening intently to things I can’t even see or hear. I think she would stay out all night long if we let her. And if you read this book, you will experience this nighttime, from the loneliness and dangers of it to the confidence and unexpected alliances formed there.
I have to admit that I had to adjust to a dog as the narrator. I did not grow up around dogs but as an adult, I have had six and I think all dog owners and dog lovers want to be able to read the minds of our dogs. We know our dogs like riding in our trucks and we assume our dogs are happy by having food and shelter but this book made me wonder if we are right. I have questioned it even more after adopting a hound dog earlier this year.
She was probably someone’s hunting dog and was found with a broken and mangled leg, most likely caught in a snare trap. It is unknown if she had been abandoned by the hunter (as happens to many hunting dogs at the end of the season) or if she became lost while out on a hunt. She is very timid and is scared of almost everyone and everything yet is drawn to other dogs and absolutely comes to life when we take her out late at night. With no traffic in the neighborhood, and no runners or walkers, I watch her assess the night, sniffing the air, looking at and listening intently to things I can’t even see or hear. I think she would stay out all night long if we let her. And if you read this book, you will experience this nighttime, from the loneliness and dangers of it to the confidence and unexpected alliances formed there.
November 16, 2020
I think an editor's eye would have added a good deal. Reiteration of thoughts throughout, repeating to make the point were burdensome. I'm not a big fan of animals thinking as people do and reacting in manners not befitting their species. I'm not clear on what the message is that the author was trying to portray either. The scenery was well described and characters elicited care. Just not my cup of tea.
November 3, 2022
It’s a story about a dog. And it is so much more. Biggs is a spirited German shepherd, and a farm dog, a protector of his master’s land and livestock. But everything changes one night when he breaks free, racing into the darkness to save a friend. The action leaps off the first page as the journey weaves through the Appalachian wilderness, unraveling the preconceived beliefs etched into the rocks of time. Through an unexpected turn of events, Biggs encounters a coyote named Cota and the two form an unusual friendship. But a german shepherd and a coyote cannot be friends, not in the Appalachian farm country they call home. Broken Chain - The Echo of Lone Howls is an epic adventure, a test of strength and purpose, that challenges the bonds of friendship, and will change your way of thinking forever. Biggs’s journey unfolds with both triumph and tragedy, leading him down the mysterious path of his own simple truth--only the power of empathy can break free the chains of perception. Come run with me on this exciting journey!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews